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White Sox place Jones on DL, recall Petricka

Top reliever dealing with left hip strain after two rough appearances

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Outlook: Jones, RP, CWS 0:37

28-year-old Nate Jones could receive the first crack at taking over in the ninth inning for departed White Sox closer Addison Reed

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

KANSAS CITY -- Nate Jones was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to Friday's series opener with the Royals due to a muscle strain in his left hip. The right-handed reliever was replaced by Jake Petricka, a fellow right-handed reliever who was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.

This Jones injury is related to a left glute strain that kept him out of action until March 8 during Spring Training.

"Talking to [White Sox head athletic trainer] Herm [Schneider] and talking to [general manager] Rick [Hahn], it's just better to put him on the DL and get him healthy," manager Robin Ventura said of Jones, who has walked three and allowed two hits among five batters faced this season. "You can't have a guy going out there unless he's feeling right, and if he feels discomfort, you can do a lot of damage trying to adjust and do something else.

"Every once in a while, a guy will be erratic, but it was probably a little more consistent than you'd see out of Nate. It never looked right, even when he came back in Spring Training. You're thinking it would kind of go away, and it didn't. Something must be in there to make him throw like that."

Jones felt the pain while warming up in Thursday's 10-9 loss to the Twins, but as Ventura pointed out, he noticed something a little off during a wild outing for Jones on March 23 against the Rockies in Scottsdale, Ariz. Petricka, who made his Major League debut and picked up a victory last Aug. 22 in Kansas City, figures to be used in long relief, but he is ready for anything.

"Yeah, you want to be pitching up in Chicago, but even if you're pitching in Triple-A, you have to have the same stuff you'd have up here," said Petricka, who found out about his promotion during batting practice with the Knights in Norfolk, Va., on Thursday. "I always prepare for a season, no matter where it's at.

"I knew I had a shot to get up here soon. I just had no idea it could be this soon, but I'm open for the challenge and ready to go."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.